Hammer Time

Our ice cube trays have been relocated to my classroom because I’m trying to minimize plastic in our house and they make great addition trays for math:

I intended to replace them with the retro variety, but news flash- they’re expensive! And the only ones I found locally are made in China. I’m not sold. Unless we’re camping (in which case I buy bagged ice with a recyclable wrapper), I can live without ice most of the time. But every now and then… I crave a margarita. Here’s my free (and really fun) alternative:

Fill a lidded glass container half way up with water and freeze overnight.

Take it out to thaw until the solid mass slips away from the edges and is removable.

Wrap the whole hunk in a cloth napkin or two, making sure it’s completely covered, then put it on a durable surface, like a cement step, and hammer away.

Pick your poison (I prefer 1 oz. silver tequila, like Patron, 1 oz. fresh squeezed lime juice, and 0.5 oz. Cointreau or Grand Marnier) and shake things up.

It’s a fun after-the-kids-go-to-bed activity on a Friday night, and a sweet salty reminder of our recent trek across the southwest, where margaritas abound…